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Original poster

Has anyone been to Cairo and the Valley of the Kings

19 replies

QueenNatalya · 03/09/2022 17:45

Posting here for traffic. Just wondering the best way to do a historical based trip! We currently live in Cyprus so will make our own way to Egypt - probably October half term or at Easter. We’d like to see the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings within approx 4 days. Is this possible? Has anyone done it? What’s the best way? Any advice or tips would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:
Gardenista · 03/09/2022 17:47

Yes but a long time ago, eat way to see both in such a small time is to fly Luxor to Cairo - it’s a long distance between them.
for the temples - Karnak, Luxor, Aswan etc - definitely a cruise if possible otherwise you are going back on yourself several hours each day.

Gardenista · 03/09/2022 17:49

Meant best way.
cairo is worth seeing , not just the pyramids on the outskirts

nokitchen · 03/09/2022 17:50

We did it donkeys years ago. A cruise is a good idea for this. We really enjoyed if

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JustTheOneSwan · 03/09/2022 17:50

Four days is only enough to do one of the other imo.
I did the night train to Cairo, wouldn't recommend that.

BMW6 · 03/09/2022 17:50

Yes, did a Nile cruise years ago. I think that took 4 or 5 days. Luxor to Aswan. Optional excursions to Cairo and Abu Simbel (?)

Was wonderful - not many tourists as was November and year after the massacre at the Valley of the Kings

Bakingdiva · 03/09/2022 17:53

We did 4 days in Cairo (although 1 day was a trip to Alexandria), 3 days in Luxor and 4 days in Hurgharda - it was great. (12 years ago though!)

We flew between Cairo & Luxor but then went in a convoy through the Sahara from Luxor to Hurghada.

I can highly recommend, but if you only have a short time, I'm not sure you'd be able to do Cairo and Luxor

Xpologog · 03/09/2022 17:55

Yes. If you’re going from Cyprus on the boat there’s security on the coaches when you get to Egypt. Be careful of cameras, wallets etc.. getting off the boat for the coaches. I found it was a scrum with men grabbing at my camera to take my photo and trying to touch my hair, something to do with it considered lucky to touch blonde hair. It was nearly 20 years ago., but I can’t remember being somewhere I felt less safe.

Original poster
QueenNatalya · 03/09/2022 18:17

Thanks all. Will investigate! I don’t suppose anyone knows of any cruise operators that they would recommend (obviously without flights).

OP posts:
FloppyFlippy · 03/09/2022 18:39

We stayed near Hurghada and flew to Cairo, it was one of my best days ever. Is flying between both destinations a possibility.

Roselilly36 · 03/09/2022 18:47

Cairo is fabulous, we took an excursion cruise from Cyprus, docked early in the morning, visited the pyramids and Cairo museum, back to the ship. Never forgotten it.

ChiefDogsbody · 03/09/2022 18:56

We've been to Egypt several times, the last time was Easter this year when we went on a Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan

As others have said its going to be tricky to see the pyramids and Luxor in the same trip unless you can stretch it a few days? Definitely fly between Luxor and Cairo, there are lots of flights daily.

We went on this boat which was amazing but we did get a thumping good deal as Egypt was just starting to open up to tourists after covid. I don't know prices now!
www.oberoihotels.com/nile-cruise-philae/

From Aswan you can fly to Abu Simbel, there are coach trips too but they will take a day round trip

If you only have 4 days, I would stick to Luxor, there is enough to see there to keep you very busy. Leave the pyramids for another time.

BMW6 · 03/09/2022 19:08

Our cruise was with Kuoni.

WoodlandMummy · 03/09/2022 19:10

Yes, c 25 years ago. I spent time in Luxor (incredible) then flew to Cairo, then flew back to Luxor (same day) then went by coach and military convoy to Hurghada. We had to duck and turn the coach lights out when we went through the desert! Was an experience. Don’t think such things occur anymore.

KenAdams · 03/09/2022 19:13

That's so weird I was coming on to post almost this exact thread. We go on Feb, when do you go? Struggling to find a hotel in Luxor - no availability at the Winter Palace. We'll likely stay at Giza rather than Cairo centre though as we want to do the pyramids and the GEM.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/09/2022 19:19

Valley of the Kings, but not Cairo. At the time could not get a 2 centre holiday. Stayed at the lovely Old Winter Palace, and a week was not too long. Did the tombs/sights during the mornings - early starts! - afternoons chilling by the pool.
Too much of the antiquities at once can IMO end up with you being ‘tombed out’ BTW, hence our mornings only.

JustTheOneSwan · 03/09/2022 19:20

Cairo museum was a four day trip when I went. Luxor and VoK VoQ at least a week. If you like history they've got a fuck tonne.
If you're worried about blonde wear a hijab, there are tourist police in the main areas but a scarf is like armour.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/09/2022 19:20

Would just add that son et lumiere at Karnak was unforgettable.

Jumpking · 03/09/2022 19:20

Easy. Last month we toured Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurgarda. All booked independently.

Giza is a 30m drive outside Cairo. Easy to pick up an Uber to take you there. Whilst in Cairo, make time for the Egyptian museum for king tut and a wander around old Cairo.

Luxor is a short plane ride away. We went on the train, but it took 10 hours. Probably too tight for you, unless you take the sleeper train?

Luxor-the valley of the kings/queen's, hapshepsut's temple, Rameses temple all in close proximity to each other. Really easy to book a private car to take you to all these places in a day.

Happy to help further if I can.

tonicwaters · 03/09/2022 19:40

Fabulous trip, bring plenty of tummy tablets! You are hoping to pack a lot into four days though, but it can be done. Get to Cairo take the overnight train to Luxor then cruise or take train back to Cairo and home. You will be exhausted but elated. It's a pity you have only such a short time, as you will have to rush seeing some things.

I was there in 2008 (how time flies!) for nearly two weeks. Took the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan for Abu Simbel and the Nubian temples. Cruised back up to Luxor (fabulous) and did all the things there. Then took the train back up to Cairo and home. Best experience ever, and I think (hope) I am reasonably well travelled. Just so different and mysterious. But I was templed out near the end.

The train was primitive, but we had a two berth cabin, and each carriage had its own conductor who supplied food and drinks. There was a guided tour group of mad Irish on the train and we sang all the way to Aswan. Cairo is not for the faint hearted. So busy, so big. We got a private guide and driver for the three days there (so posh, but was young and full of funds then), and the same in Luxor. Worth every penny security wise and everything else. We used Trailfinders to sort it all out. Could not fault them at the time anyway.

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